Friday, November 23, 2007

Yay!

Finally got internet back at home!

And I also finally got a job I can accept, unlike the two other jobs I was offered since I've been back. One of them was utterly boring and repetitive as hell, the other one I couldn't get to in time (6AM) without a car (the metro and bus system would get me there at best 20 minutes late...), which I don't have as my brother uses "our" old piece of junk and lives about 10 blocks away from me.

Anyways, I feel like my life's getting back on track. Good thing as I spent every cent I made this summer.

Now I feel connected and employed again and it feels damn good. Therefore, it's about time I update a few things on this page. I'll start with my intro picture and I'll see what needs to be changed or removed (I'm a fan of simplicity: If there's something I can't stand, it's those myspace or facebook pages, clusterfucked with a shitload of stuff), I guess the same applies to my life.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Bad Product Awards

Been a while I haven't posted. I'm still busy and without a regular internet connection, so blogging is a low priority. I should get internet within the next week, so I'll try to resume my useless ramblings...

But here's a press release that caught my attention, as I'm quite interested by everything that touches consumerism.

The world federation of consumer organisations, Consumers International (CI) today announced the winners of the International Bad Product Awards, to be presented at CI’s World Congress in Sydney, Australia, 29 Oct – 1 November 2007.

The awards aim to highlight failings of corporate responsibility and the abuse of consumer trust by internationally recognised brands. The announcement comes as 400 delegates from national consumer organisations and governments, convene in Sydney to attend CI’s World Congress.This year’s winners* are:

Coca-Cola – for continuing the international marketing of its bottled water, Dasani, despite admitting it comes from the same sources as local tap water.

Kellogg’s – for the worldwide use of cartoon-type characters and product tie-ins aimed at children, despite high levels of sugar and salt in their food products.

Mattel – for stonewalling US congressional investigations and avoiding overall responsibility for the global recall of 21 million products.

"These multi-billion dollar companies are global brands with a responsibility to be honest, accountable and responsible. In highlighting their short-comings Consumers International and its 220 member organisations are holding corporations to account and demanding businesses take social responsibility seriously."Download the CI press briefing

*Full details of each nomination can be found in the accompanying CI Press briefing, which can be downloaded here.

Time to go wish I was a kid again, so I could eat, play and sleep thanks to all that good stuff!